04/12/2021 SB Minutes

Bethlehem Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

April 12, 2021

 

Via Zoom – Present: Chairman Boisseau, Selectman Moritz, Selectman Caplain, Selectman Jensen, Selectman Moore

Chairman Boisseau recited the attached statement regarding virtual meetings. – Roll call – all

Chairman Boisseau opened the meeting at 6:00pm and reminded people to leave their microphones on mute.

 

Selectman Caplain – good news – Bethlehem Energy Commission 2021 NH Energy Champion Award – small handful of towns in state nominated – April 23^rd awards given.

 

Public Input:

Pam Sullivan – Marketing update – weekly dashboard for Just Be – 2000 visitors – all over New England – 151 recipe book downloads – 120+ email addresses – social media getting pushes and traction – 2 gift certificates awarded so far – google ad-words starting this week.

Margaret Gale– welcome back to Selectman Moore

Bruce Caplain – Maplewood Train Station – committee to save station and restore station – 2 phases – fundraising to support building – architect coming out to measure and photograph to do accurate reconstruction – dismantle and rebuild building – first $7500 to be matched by donors – maplewoodtrainstation.org

 

Bretzfelder Committee appointment:

Nancy Czarny – recommending Nancy Czarny and Shanna Marziarz for 3-year commission and Sue Greenlaw for 1 year commission –

Selectman Moritz made a motion to move forward with the committee recommendations – Selectman Jensen second – roll call – all – motion passed

 

Presidential Mountain Resort – traffic and safety discussion:

Chairman Boisseau addressed concerns with pedestrian traffic in the area and increased traffic with the larger development. Selectman Jensen stated the planning board awaiting ideas from Mr. Rudich. Selectman Boisseau suggested a possible letter from board to DOT with concerns in increased traffic. Selectman Caplain agreed. BC – more crossing street as cabins Selectman Moritz would like to speak with Mr. Rudich to asses current safety plan before writing letter. Board is aware of speed through there and increased pedestrians – important to let DOT know.

Chris Daley – Rocks Edge Road – increased traffic on road with PMR guests taking wrong turns – checked GPS and directions are correct – board thoughts? – Selectman Boisseau – signage may be better – Selectman Moore – signage further down road – Selectman Moritz – reach out to Rudich and pose question as well during safety discussion – Chris Daley – larger signage or more signage would help.

Margaret Gale – does Town have jurisdiction to enforce speed limit?  Selectmen Moritz and Jensen– Yes – Margaret – not being enforced – Selectman Moore – electronic signs down near corner would help.

Cheryl Jensen – electronic signs would be good but increased speed monitoring would be better.

 

Presidential Mountain Resort – Noise ordinance waiver:

Selectman Boisseau – needs more info for waiver – doesn’t include details on times and days of the week – Selectman Moritz – would like abutters to weigh in.

Angela McKinnon – abutter – running equipment before 7am- last year 5:15am with main development – 7am is not unreasonable for construction.

Selectman Jensen stated the point of the noise ordinance is to prevent loud construction before 7am, does not want to grant waiver. Selectman Moore, agrees, 7am is good. Selectman Caplain stated when the ordinance was drafted it was designed to be flexible when appropriate but is not appropriate in this case, construction can go later in the day.

Selectman Jensen made a motion to decline waiver for the Presidential Mountain Resort – Selectman Caplain second – roll call – all – motion passed.

Selectman Moritz stated feedback from the neighbors was important to making this decision.

Cheryl Jensen – Asked if the PMR was aware of the ordinance as they were starting before 7am. Selectman Moritz stated they were not aware prior to requesting the waiver.

Chris Daley stated he made the initial complaint and PMR, when made aware of ordinance, did quiet down and complied.

 

Merchandising update:

Pam Sullivan – met with Tim Fleury to discuss options – work with Speedy Printing to develop sales page – Sullivan Creative will do first order of 12 for screen printing – Mr. Fleury will work with board to select merchandise for silk screens and items on website for embroidery – end of May website would be up.

Rita Farrell asked for background on the project and source of funding. Chairman Boisseau explained the scope of the project and that no money is required form the town up front.

 

Other:

Pam Sullivan – visitor center – UAAI – mapping company – no charge to visitor center – Sullivan will prepare info for UAAI – Bethlehem Events have cover of map but will not be pursuing this year – in past 2800 clicks a month to website form mapping site – UAAI approached town to take over cover spot – $385 to town outside of Sullivan marketing budget.

Selectman Moritz if outside of marketing budget would be hesitant to commit money to new project. Chairman Boisseau agrees.

Selectman Jensen – under the guidance of the Conservation Commission and Transfer Station Committee the town joined the Northeast Resource Recovery Association. We are up for renewal, $185, came from transfer station trust fund in the past.

Selectman Moritz made motion to renew Northern Resource Recovery Association membership from transfer station capital fund – Selectman Jensen second – roll call – all – motion passed.

Barry Zitser – marketing in French to appeal to neighbors – Pam Sullivan – agrees that it is important even with closed borders.

 

Minutes (3/29/2021)

Selectman Moritz – motion to accept minutes from 3/29/2021 – Selectman Caplain – seconded – roll call – Selectmen Boisseau, Caplain, Jensen, Moritz – Selectman Moore abstained – motion passed

 

At 7:01pm Chairman Boisseau made a motion to go to Non-public Session per RSA 91A-3 II (personnel, legal) – Selectman Caplain seconded – roll call – all – motion passed.

Discussed personnel with Road Agent.

Selectman Moore made motion to increase Scott Harris to $16 hr – Selectman Jensen second – roll call – all – motion passed.

Road Agent spoke on sexton position.

Chairman Boisseau – made motion to go to $1000 stipend and $150 per burial for the Sexton – roll call – all – motion passed.

Board spoke on BCC lifetime membership pass and legal advice on matter. Board agrees no liability to town.

Selectman Moritz made motion to move forward with pool hires – Selectman Jensen seconded – roll call all – motion passes.

At 7:29 pm – Selectman Caplain made a motion to adjourn. Chairman Moritz seconded – roll call – all – motion passed. 

Respectfully submitted,

Tim Fleury

Administrative Assistant

 

A Checklist To Ensure Meetings Are Compliant With The Right-to- Know Law During The State Of Emergency

 

As Chair of the Bethlehem Board of Selectmen, I find that due to the State of Emergency declared by the Governor as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with the Governor’s Emergency Order #12 pursuant to Executive Order 2020-04, this public body is authorized to meet electronically.

Please note that there is no physical location to observe and listen contemporaneously to this meeting, which was authorized pursuant to the Governor’s Emergency Order. However, in accordance with the Emergency Order, I am confirming that we are:

1. Providing public access to the meeting by telephone, with additional access possibilities by video or other electronic means:

 

We are utilizing Zoom for this electronic meeting. All members of the select board have the ability to communicate contemporaneously during this meeting through this platform, and the public has access to contemporaneously listen and, if necessary, participate in this meeting through dialing the following phone #646 558 8656, Meeting ID: 210 605 342 and Password: 087588, or by clicking on the following website address:

 

https://zoom.us/j/210605342?pwd=RlMyRVNKUWZIZk1wdFFYaWJFZ2dKdz09

 

1. Providing public notice of the necessary information for accessing the meeting:

 

We previously gave notice to the public of the necessary information for accessing the meeting, including how to access the meeting using Zoom or telephonically. Instructions have also been provided on the website of the Town of Bethlehem at www.bethlehemnh.org.

1. Providing a mechanism for the public to alert the public body during the meeting if there are problems with access:

 

If anybody has a problem, please email Tim Fleury at: admin@bethlehemnh.org

 

1. Adjourning the meeting if the public is unable to access the meeting:

 

In the event the public is unable to access the meeting, the meeting will be adjourned and rescheduled.

 

Please note that all votes that are taken during this meeting shall be done by roll call vote.

 

Let’s start the meeting by taking a roll call attendance. When each member states their presence, please also state whether there is anyone in the room with you during this meeting, which is required under the Right-to- Know law.

 

1 Many public bodies are utilizing video teleconferencing technology, such as Zoom, to ensure the electronic meeting comply with the Right-to-Know law and any applicable due process requirements. In certain circumstances, a regular business meeting of a public body may be conducted utilizing audio-only technology. If you have any questions about the appropriateness of the technology utilized to conduct your meeting, please consult your agency counsel or the Attorney General’s Office.